Intro
I recently updated my lab machine to XenServer 6.0 and I wanted to create a local ISO repository on the DOM0 partition. I have 3 physical drives, one 250GB drive that holds the host partition and its backup and two 500GB drives that host VM’s. I know that only 8GB on the 250 GB drive are used for the host and its backup, so I wanted to create the local ISO repository in the remaining space.
Stop! Linux Time
Connect to the CLI of your XenServer.
fdisk –l shows my current partition tables
[root@MARLINSPIKE ~]# fdisk -l WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted. Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk /dev/sda doesn't contain a valid partition table WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted. Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk /dev/sdb doesn't contain a valid partition table WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdc'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted. Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes 256 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30282 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16128 * 512 = 8257536 bytes Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdc1 * 1 30283 244198583+ ee EFI GPT
Dom0 contains 3 partitions. The first is where the XenServer host resides. The second is the host backup. The final partition is the rest of the unused space on the 250GB drive. In my file system, this is /dev/sdc3. The following commands will format and mount this space as an ISO partition.
[root@MARLINSPIKE ~]# mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdc3 mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006) Filesystem label= OS type: Linux Block size=4096 (log=2) Fragment size=4096 (log=2) 29491200 inodes, 58952233 blocks 2947611 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user First data block=0 Maximum filesystem blocks=0 1800 block groups 32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group 16384 inodes per group Superblock backups stored on blocks: 32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208, 4096000, 7962624, 11239424, 20480000, 23887872 Writing inode tables: done Creating journal (32768 blocks): done Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done This filesystem will be automatically checked every 32 mounts or 180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override. [root@MARLINSPIKE]# mkdir /mnt/iso/ [root@MARLINSPIKE]# mount -t ext3 /dev/sdc3 /mnt/iso/ [root@MARLINSPIKE]# echo "/dev/sdc3 /mnt/iso ext3 defaults 1 1" >> /etc/fstab [root@MARLINSPIKE]# xe-mount-iso-sr /mnt/iso -o bind
Now the new ISO partition shows up in my XenCenter console.
Sources:
Citrix Forums: Thread: Dom0 Partitions
Citrix Forums: Thread: xe sr-create, local ISO SR on larger drive
How to add an additional local disk to your XenServer 5.5 host
XenServer create local ISO Repository (LVM)
How To Re-partition a Xen Virtual Machine Using GParted LiveCD
LinuxQuestions.org: Having problems mounting hd. (mount: you must specify the filesystem type)
Thanks,
Alain
Wag the Real 
awesome guide
[root@XenServer ~]# fdisk /dev/sdb1 -l
Disk /dev/sdb1: 134 MB, 134217728 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 16 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk /dev/sdb1 doesn’t contain a valid partition table
should be over 250g here not 134mb
xenserver 6.02 btw
when I did this it all worked except the new folder was a copy of sda1 size of 4gb. How do I expand sda2 which is now /mnt/iso to use the rest of the 250gb drive? There should be at least 200gb available for the iso’s or vm backups.
Brian,
What version of XenServer did you try this on? What is the result of running fdisk -l on your XenCenter console? You can also run fdisk /dev/sda3 -l.
Thanks,
Alain